Bachmann 31-364A

Bachmann's Description & Specifications

We are delighted to welcome the Class 03 Diesel Shunter back to the Bachmann Branchline OO scale range. Taking advantage of the technical upgrades undertaken to the popular Branchline model a few years ago, this Class 03 features a coreless motor, Next18 DCC decoder socket and has space for a speaker for those wishing to add sound – or why not opt for our SOUND FITTED model which has a Speaker and DCC Sound Decoder pre-fitted.

The Bachmann Branchline model combines a detailed chassis, depicting the jackshaft drive arrangement of the prototype and complete with sandboxes, sandpipes and underframe equipment, with a high fidelity bodyshell adorned with numerous separately-fitted detail parts. The distinctive bonnet doors are fitted with separate handrails, with further separate handrails to be found around the cab, at the front of the locomotive and on the running plate. Lamps irons and windscreen wipers are each fitted individually, as is the flowerpot chimney and the turned metal air horn. With NEM coupling pockets, the standard tension lock couplings can be removed and replaced with the supplied filling piece to complete the look of the deep bufferbeams that are a feature of the prototype. Finished with an exquisite livery application using authentic colours, logos and fonts, this is an attractive addition to any OO scale collection.

We are delighted to welcome No. D2095 in BR Green livery with the distinct wasp stripes at either end.

• Bachmann Branchline OO Scale
• Era 5
• Pristine BR Green (Wasp Stripes) livery
• Running No. D2095
• Flowerpot Chimney
• Radiator-side Steps
• Single Air Horn
• NEM Coupling Pockets
• Sprung Buffers
• Powerful Coreless Motor
• Detailed Cab Interior with pre-fitted Driver in one cab
• Cab Lighting (when used on DCC only)
• Locomotive Ready to Accept a Speaker
• Accessory Pack
• Equipped with a Next18 DCC Decoder Socket - Recommend Decoder item No. 36-567A
• Length 105mm

Class & Prototype

The BR Class 03 was British Railways' standard light diesel-mechanical shunter, with 230 built at Doncaster and Swindon Works between 1957-1962. Powered by the legendary Gardner 8L3 engine and featuring distinctive jackshaft drive with coupling rods, these 30-ton locomotives excelled on weight-restricted lines, docks, and industrial sidings where heavier Class 08s couldn't operate. Notable variants included nine cut-down cab examples for the Burry Port & Gwendraeth Valley Railway and two for Isle of Wight tunnel clearance. With 56 preserved (24% survival rate) and the last example working until 2008, the Class 03 remains popular with heritage railways and modellers alike.

Operator & Livery

British Railways transformed Britain's fragmented rail network into a unified national system following nationalisation on 1st January 1948. Created from the "Big Four" companies under the Transport Act 1947, BR operated most of Great Britain's railways until rebranding as British Rail in 1965, managing over 20,000 route miles and inheriting nearly 20,000 locomotives of diverse designs.

The organisation pioneered standardisation through its revolutionary BR Standard locomotive programme (1951-1960), producing 999 advanced steam engines under Robert Riddles' direction. These included the versatile Britannia Pacifics, mighty 9F freight engines, and mixed-traffic classes that incorporated the best features from all predecessor companies. The 1955 Modernisation Plan accelerated diesel and electric traction development, creating fascinating mixed-traction operations.

Notable achievements included establishing unified locomotive classification systems, introducing distinctive corporate liveries, and managing the complex transition from steam to modern traction. BR's six regional structure preserved operational diversity whilst enabling standardisation of practices, signalling, and rolling stock that had eluded private enterprise for over a century.

The BR era represents steam traction's final flowering alongside emerging diesel technology, creating unparalleled locomotive variety. Today, this heritage remains highly popular with railway enthusiasts through extensive preserved fleets, heritage railway operations, and comprehensive model ranges from manufacturers like Hornby, Bachmann, and Dapol, making BR subjects essential for authentic post-war British railway modelling across all scales.

The Green with Wasp Stripes livery emerged around 1960 as a safety enhancement for British Railways shunting locomotives. This distinctive scheme combined the standard green body colour with bold yellow and black diagonal chevron patterns applied to cab ends, creating high-visibility warning stripes that mimicked natural wasp colouration.

Applied primarily to shunting classes including the Class 03, Class 08, and Class 14 locomotives, the wasp stripes were designed to improve visibility and safety around busy freight yards and industrial sites. The rollout was gradual, taking nearly a decade to reach all BR shunters, with application becoming more common throughout the 1960s.

This practical livery variant represented BR's evolving approach to railway safety during the diesel era, maintaining traditional green heritage whilst incorporating modern safety markings. For modellers, it perfectly captures the utilitarian character of British Railways freight operations during the transitional period from steam to diesel traction.